TEARS OF THE
SILENCED
Tears of
the Silenced
An Amish True Crime Memoir of
Childhood Sexual Abuse, Brutal
Betrayal and Ultimate Survival
Misty Griffin
Mango Publishing
Coral Gables
Copyright © 2019 by Misty E. Griffin
Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.
Cover & Layout Design: Jermaine Lau
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Tears of the Silenced: An Amish True Crime Memoir of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Brutal Betrayal and Ultimate Survival
Library of Congress Cataloging
ISBN: (print) 978-1-64250-025-7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018952302
BISAC category code: TRU009000—TRUE CRIME / Sexual Assault
Printed in the United States of America
Important Note
Given the severity of the author’s life story, she was cautioned and advised to disguise the identity of all persons, events and communities involved. It is not her intent to put anyone in harm’s way, or cause any form of vigilante justice, but rather to tell her life’s story in an attempt to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.
Disclaimer
The following account is based on the real true life story of Misty Griffin. Names, locations, identifying characteristics and some details have been partially altered, added and or withheld. Any supposed likeness to any persons, communities, or specific locations should be reconsidered since some details have been modified. Story and dialogue have been reconstructed based on true events. Some incidents were too traumatic and have been blocked from the author’s memory. These have been reconstructed based on conversations, letters, phone calls, a police report and outcomes of the incidents.
To anyone who is reading this memoir, the author would like to stress that her real life story is much worse than is presented in this manuscript. The author did not feel that all of those details were needed to get her story and message across to the reader.
This book has been edited from its original content for length and some of the most graphic and triggering passages were removed. Some incidents were removed to save certain innocent people embarrassment. The author genuinely hopes that individuals will learn from this written work and go on to make the world a better and safer place.
Dedication
I would like to dedicate this book first and foremost to my husband who has shown me what it feels like to be loved. I would also like to dedicate this book to all the silenced Amish victims. May they someday find a voice and be heard.
When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and, for a time, they can seem invincible, but, in the end, they always fall. Think of it—always.
—Mahatma Gandhi
If you have a dream, don’t just sit there. Gather courage to believe that you can succeed and leave no stone unturned to make it a reality.
—Roopleen
Table of Contents
Uniformity: The Loss of Identity